Stage-screw.



E. W. NOERTEMAN.

STAGE SCREW.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17 1914.

1,18,305, Patented June 20; 1916.

9 Pall f 5114mm ZZZ Ward 21/. [Yoaryfiemam wizlimeoom I I l EDWARD W. NOERTEMAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO ST. LOUIS LANTERN SLIDE COMPANY, A COPARTNERSHIP, AT PRESENT COMPOSED OF EDWARD W. NOERTEMAN, GEORGE W. DAVISON, AND HARRY NOERTEMAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MIS- SOURI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

STAGE-SCREW.

Patented June 20, 1916.

Application filed August 17, 1914. Serial No. 857,216.

The object of this invention is to providea stage screw having a separable handle which may be readily and easily secured to and detached therefrom',-and one which will be relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation. screw. Fig. 3 is an end view of the handle. Fig.4 is a section on line 44=, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the device to illustrate the relative arrangement of the lugs of the screw proper and the stops formed in the socket of the handle, in one position of the parts. I

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a wood screw of the kind ordinarily employed in securing scenery to stages, and which screwsmust be capable of being readily and easily applied and removed. The screw has a cylindrical shank 2 extending beyond a flange 3, and from this shank 2 project lateral lugs 4.v

T he handle 5, by which the screw is designed to be manipulated, has a socket 6 designed to accommodate the cylindrical shank 2, and in this socket I form two bayonet slots 7 having, in addition to their longitudinal portions, circumferentially extending portions 8 on both sides of each of the longitudinal portions. These circumferentially extending portions of the two slots are separated by stops 9. The stops 9, like the lugs 4, are disposed in diametrical relation to each other and midway of the circumferentially extending portions 8 of the slots, and each of said circumferentially extending portions 8 is approximately 180 in length.

In practice the handle is positioned on the screw by causing the longitudinal portions of the bayonet slots to coincide with lugs 4 and allowing a relative movement between the two parts until the socket of the handle engages the flange of the screw; Thereupon by turning the handle axially the lugs will Fig. 2 1s a View of the.

be locked in the circumferentially extending portions of the two bayonet-slots, and when the. stops 9 engage said lugs the screw may be readily turned by'the handle. After a screw has been properly positioned it is only necessary to give the handle a partial reverse turn to enable it to be removed from the screw. Thus while the latter is in position it is freed from theprojecting handle which when aflixed to the screw is liable to be broken off and frequently causes persons to trip thereover or clothing to be torn. By means of my invention the handle may be secured to and detached from the screw by a partial turning. There are noloo'se parts liable to be lost, and no thread, other than that of thescrew itself subject to injury.

The handle 5 is formed, as will be noted, with the usual ring portions or engaging members 5' for engagement by cables, hooks,

guy ropes, etc.,, as is customary with devices of thls character; and it is to be particularly noted that by the construction and arrange ment of the'parts hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and specifically set forth in the appended claim, the handle may be adjusted angularly or axially, through an arc of substantially 90 to two different positions, and will'be held securely connected to the screw portion in either of these two positions, the lugs 4 passing, in this movement or adjustment, the

entrance portions which intersect the circumferentially extending portions 8 of the slots, and the lugs abutting against the stops 9, as best illustrated in Fig; .5. Hence it is possible to use the device with guy ropes or the like, secured thereto and extending either vertically or horizontally, for example, without screwing up or backing oil the screw portion at all, but leaving it just where it will be most securely held in place.

I claim as my invention:

A stage screw, comprising a threaded portion provided with a shank, said shank being formed with two lugs projecting laterally therefrom in diametric relation to each other and a detachable handle having a hand-grip portion provided with engaging members for the purpose specified, and with a socket,

either one of two planes that are approxi- M?) mately at right angles to each other.

In testimony whereof, I have signedthis specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD W. NOERTEMAN.

Witnesses: I

GEORGE W. DAvIsoN, HARRY NOERTEMAN. 

